Strasburg strong in return, but Nats fall to Dodgers

Sep 7, 2011 - 5:59 AM
Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Stephen Strasburg made his first major
league start in over a year, tossing five shutout innings, but the Nationals
fell to the Dodgers, 7-3, in the second test of a four-game series.

Strasburg allowed just two hits and didn't walk a batter while striking out
four. His fastball topped out at 99 mph and his changeup averaged in the low
90s.

He was on a limited pitch count on a rainy night and threw 40 of his 56
pitches for strikes.

"He was special," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "He stayed down most
of the time. He went up when he wanted to. It was fun watching him. It was
like he never went out."

Strasburg had not pitched in the majors since August 21, 2010, because of a
torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an injury that resulted in
Tommy John surgery.

Rod Barajas' two-run double in the eighth inning off of Henry Rodriguez (3-3)
put the Dodgers ahead for good as they handed the Nationals their 11th loss
in 14 games.

Andre Ethier added two hits and four RBI as Los Angeles improved to 12-3 over
its last 15.

Kenley Jansen (2-1) struck out the side in the seventh to earn the win. Ted
Lilly started the game for the Dodgers and allowed three runs -- two earned --
on four hits and three walks while striking out nine over five innings.

Washington loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning against Javy
Guerra on singles by Rick Ankiel and Ryan Zimmerman, and a walk to Ian
Desmond, bringing the tying run to plate. But Guerra struck out Michael Morse
on an outside fastball and got pinch-hitter Corey Brown on a fly out to left
to end the game.

Dee Gordon hit the fourth pitch Strasburg threw into left-center field for a
leadoff double. After James Loney flied out to center field, Gordon advanced
to third on a Matt Kemp groundout, but Strasburg induced a fly out to right by
Juan Rivera to strand him there.

Strasburg did not allow another base runner until Rivera's single with two
outs in the fourth.

"He lives up to the hype of what he has. He has great stuff," Ethier said. "He
commands all his pitches, hits his spots."

After leaving the bases loaded in the first, the Nationals broke through in
the second on back-to-back doubles by Chris Marrero and Wilson Ramos.
Strasburg followed with a sacrifice bunt to the left side of the infield, but
Lilly's short-hop throw bounced past Loney at first and Ramos scored on the
throwing error.

Desmond's base hit to right put runners on the corners, and Jayson Werth's
groundout to short brought Strasburg across the plate for a 3-0 lead.

Doug Slaten started the sixth inning for Washington and allowed consecutive
singles to pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll and Gordon to start the frame. After
Loney struck out, Brad Peacock took over for his major league debut.

Kemp then hit a hard grounder to short that Desmond deflected into left field,
allowing Carroll to score. A Rivera walk loaded the bases with one out, and
Ethier lined a ball back up the middle to plate Gordon and Kemp. Aaron Miles'
single loaded the bases again, but Barajas grounded into a 6-4-3 double play
to end the inning and keep it a 3-3 game.

Ethier reached first on a fielder's choice in the eighth and Miles followed
with a base hit to left before Barajas lined a double into the left-field
corner, scoring Ethier and Miles and giving the Dodgers a 5-3 lead.

The Nationals stranded a runner on third in the eighth, and Ethier slapped a
two-run double into right-center off of Yunesky Maya in ninth to put the game
away.

Game Notes

Before the game, Washington reinstated Strasburg from the 60-day disabled
list; recalled pitchers Maya, Craig Stammen and Atahualpa Severino as well as
Brown from Triple-A Syracuse; selected Peacock and infielder Steve Lombardozzi
from Syracuse; transferred pitcher Cole Kimball to the 60-day disabled list;
unconditionally released pitcher Adam Carr; and designated pitcher Garrett
Mock for assignment...Los Angeles recalled pitcher John Ely, catcher Tim
Federowicz and outfielder/infielder Jerry Sands from Triple-A
Albuquerque...Marrero's double in the second inning was the first extra-base
hit of his career...It was just the second time in Lilly's last seven starts
that he gave up at least three runs...Los Angeles improved to 4-7 all-time at
Nationals Park...The game was delayed by 31 minutes in the seventh inning
because of rain.

Stephen Strasburg sacrificed, reached first on Ted Lilly's throwing error, advances to second on Ted Lilly's throwing error. On the play, Wilson Ramos scored on the error. Runner on second with none out and Ian Desmond due up.